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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column No, We Didn’t Have To Use The “D” Word In 2014.

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And don’t forget my latest feature story in the continuing series on service club organizations called This Moose Isn’t Called Bullwinkle.

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Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is a “ hodograph?” Please remember to post your answer as a comment by clicking on “no comments /comments” in the upper right hand portion of this page under the caption, then add your comment. The first person to post the correct answer will win a week of free personalized weather forecasts tailored to your needs. The answer has to be a comment to win. An email answer will not count. Good luck.

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An upper level high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape mainly in blue arrows) is slowly moving to the east away from us. That will allow storms to start moving through Oregon. A frontal system, the first of many, has brought rain with it, but it moved through quickly enough to bring us some sunshine. Skiers note – Hoodoo, Willamette Pass, and Mt. Ashland are all closed for now. They say they will be opening again when enough snow falls. Check their websites for conditions and specific schedules.

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Air Quality Index: Eugene-Springfield:

The Air Quality Index is 13 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter at HWY 99, Eugene. Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 47 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter at Willamette Activity Center, Oakridge. Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene/Springfield: GREEN – Burning is Allowed.

Oakridge: GREEN – Burning is Allowed.

(The use of Pellet stoves is always allowed.)

Advisory Courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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Advisories:

• A HEALTH ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR THE PRESENCE OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE AT LOST CREEK LAKE , LOCATED 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF MEDFORD ON THE ROGUE RIVER IN JACKSON COUNTY AND AT DEVILS LAKE IN LINCOLN COUNTY. THE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM MEANS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DRINK OR HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE AFFECTED WATER AND THAT ALSO GOES FOR ANY PETS.

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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:

• Increasing clouds with rain developing late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with rain Saturday (1.00 in. of rain possible), rain (0.50 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: W 15-25 mph) at night,
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) Sunday (0.65 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Patchy fog, a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), mostly cloudy with patchy fog at night.
• lows 47-50 cooling to 38 Monday night highs 54-50.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog Tuesday, cloudy with areas of fog at night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog Wednesday, cloudy with areas of fog and a slight (20%) chance  of  showers Wednesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with patchy Thursday through Friday.
• highs 48-52 lows 34-38. (seasonal averages high 47 low 34).

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, rain late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Saturday (0.45 in. of rain possible), Saturday night (0.35 in. of rain possible) and Sunday (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers and colder Sunday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), just mostly cloudy in the afternoon, partly cloudy with patchy fog late Monday night.
• lows 46-52 cooling to 40 Sunday night highs near 58.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog Tuesday, mostly cloudy with areas of fog Tuesday night through Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM fog, a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday and Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog and a slight (20%) chance of morning rain, then a slight (20%) chance of afternoon showers.
• highs 52-48 warming back to 52 Wednesday and Thursday lows 38-34 warming back to 38 Thursday. (seasonal averages high 50 low 37)

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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend:

• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain this evening, rain late tonight (0.35 in. of rain possible),
• Rain Saturday (1.00 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph gusts to 45 mph late afternoon), rain Saturday night (0.75 in. of rain possible), and windy (Wind: SW 20-30 mph decreasing to SW 15-20 mph late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday (0.15 in. of rain possible), coastal evening showers likely (60%) and a good (50%) chance of showers late at night while a good (50%) chance of inland showers Sunday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of morning showers, just mostly cloudy Monday afternoon and evening (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), then clearing with patchy fog late Monday night.
• lows 52-42 highs 58-53.
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM fog, partly cloudy Tuesday afternoon, mostly cloudy with areas of fog Tuesday night and Wednesday, mostly cloudy with areas of fog and a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday night through Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM fog and a slight (20%) chance of rain, then a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday afternoon.
• highs 54-57 lows 42-45. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain developing late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible),
• Rain (1.00 in. of rain possible) Saturday and breezy (Wind: S 5-15 mph gusts to 35 mph increasing to SW 15-25 mph gusts to 45 mph in the afternoon), rain (0.75 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: SW 20-30 mph gusts to 50 mph) Saturday night,
• Showers Sunday, rain and snow showers likely (70%) Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), then just partly cloudy Monday night.
• snow level 5,000 ft. tonight, 7,000 ft. rising to above 8,000 ft. Saturday afternoon, 8,000 ft. Saturday night, 5,500 ft. Sunday, 4,500 ft. Sunday night, 4,000 ft. Monday, then free air freezing level 5,500 ft. Monday night.
• lows 34-39 cooling to 27 Monday night highs 44-39.
•  Partly cloudy Tuesday through Wednesday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Thursday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Friday.
• free air freezing level 6,000 ft. Tuesday, 7,000 ft. Tuesday night, 8,000 ft. Wednesday, snow level 5,500 ft. Wednesday night, then 6,000 ft. Thursday, 65 Thursday night, then 8,000 ft. Friday.
• highs 42-45 lows 27-30.

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**Because weather forecasting is a combination of science, intuition, and timing there can be no absolute guarantees that individual forecasts will be 100% accurate. Nature is in a constant state of flux and sudden unexpected weather events can happen.

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Get your local Eugene-Springfield and Lane County news on-line at EugeneDailyNews.com.

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